Annual report of the Medical Department / Colony of Seychelles.

  • Seychelles. Medical Department.
Date:
[1917]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Annual report of the Medical Department / Colony of Seychelles. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    * CHAPTER IV. w- • State of the Town of Victoria. cy j t** l The campaign against rats was continued during the year; the number of rats caught werti 4,233 in the town of Victoria less than 1016 when 5,762 were caught. The general sanitary condition of the town during the year was satisfactory. * ... I CHAnER V. Vaccination. The vaccine supplied continues to give good results, the total number vaccinated in tha Central District and the result were as follows :—- First tin e 370 Second „ 6 -Third „ 2 Unsuccessful ... Total 378 CHAPTER. VI, Quarantine. The station was used on several occasions for passengers coming from Bombay. The steriliser, on Hodoul Island, was used to sterilise passengers’ luggage and gunny bags imported from infected places. CHAPTER VII. • .-vs 1 l Hospital and Dispensaries. CO • ' f I *v ! Inpatients.—The total number of inpatients treated in the Victoria Hospital was 684, being an increase of 140 on that of 1916. i 1*~ ~ Outpatients.—The total attendance of the outpatients treated during the year was 3,198, an increase of 251 on that of 1916. The increase of inpatients and outpatients is due to the labourers who served in the Sey¬ chelles Labour Force and returned from German East Africa suffering fron Dysentery &c. Maternity Home v*- • _ r- Ct Patients.—The number of admissions was 248. The number of babies born was 187. There were 3 cases of twin-birth. There was only need for instrumental delivery in one ca9e. Cases of nephritis and eclampsia were somewhat numerous, 4 of the former and 3 of the latter, these diseases are certainly more common in Seychelles than elsewhere, the reason for this is d ifficuRiicnilecido. i Chloroform was given 8 times, mostly in cases of incomplete abortion, these cases are common and are due, I think, to the prevalence of syphilis. One of the main objects of the Home, namely the replacing of the old incompetent mid¬ wives by properly trained women, has been achieved and since Sept. 1st., all certificated mid¬ wives, with one exception, (and this quite temporary) have been trained at the Home, the older class of certificated women having had the choice of being properly trained or ceasing to practice, the greatest credit is due to the Matron of the Institution, Miss Halkett, for the trouble she has taken in the training of these women whose standard of education is a low one, and for the excellent result achieved. The help which Miss Halket rendered in undertaking the nursing of the returned labourers during their quarantine (referred to above) was invaluable, the self-sacrifice and devotion, whicli she shewed to these unfortunate people wa3 beyond all praise. * a j 9 tr T - ‘r sat Staff.—Mr Watson, Chief Clerk and Dispensor etc., was promoted as Postmaster on May 1st, 1917. - > ± g - i - Mr Cauvin, Asst. Dispenser, was appointed Chief Clerk, and Mr Houreau, the apprentice, was appointed to replace Mr CauviD. Mi Watson however still acts as Anaesthetist and Manager Government Pharmacy, All these appointments were subsequently confirmed by the Secretary of State. chelies, 27th February, 1918. J. B. ADDISON. Chief Medical Officer.